“He’s found a real good fit for himself; he feels good, he feels appreciated. Now he knows the Calgary Flames are his team.’’ -- Bob Hartley

CALGARY, Alberta – The Detroit Red Wings always knew Jiri Hudler had offensive ability: good hands and vision, a finishing touch, the willingness to go to the net.

So they’re not surprised he is leading the Calgary Flames in scoring with 13 points in 12 games.

But the Red Wings probably didn’t realize Hudler was a leader. At 29, he’s one of the older players on a young club, and the Flames lauded him for his leadership ability.

“He’s been unbelievable, he’s a great leader,’’ Flames coach Bob Hartley said before Friday’s game against the Red Wings at the Saddledome. “For me, he’s our best forward.’’

Hartley said Hudler “is a like a new guy’’ in terms of his ability to lead.

“He’s found a real good fit for himself over here; he feels good, he feels appreciated,’’ Hartley said. “Now he knows the Calgary Flames are his team.’’

Hudler ducked out quickly after the morning skate without speaking to the media, like he did during the Red Wings’ two games in Calgary last season.

Nonetheless, those who know him best are impressed with how he is handling himself on and off the ice.

“I don’t know if I need him leading the whole crew, but Huds has fun and he’s a good guy,’’ Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “He’s grown up a lot over the years. He’s been through some ups and downs so he’s probably a good influence on the young guys.’’

Babcock called Hudler a star, hockey-sense wise.

The Flames, no doubt, are glad they signed him to a four-year, $16 million free-agent contract on July 1, 2012.

Hudler was coming off a season in which he scored a career-high 25 goals and collected 50 points with the Red Wings. They wanted to keep him but were reluctant to offer more than $3.2 million a season for three years.

“There was a reason why Calgary went after him,’’ Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg said. “He’s not a big guy (listed at 5-foot-10, 186), but he plays big. He’s got good balance, he’s strong, he can play net-front power play, half-wall power play, he can do it all.

“So I’m glad for him that he’s doing well, he’s a great kid. Obviously, we miss him.’’

“He’s a great leader on and off the ice,’’ MacDonald said. “He gets the puck, he holds onto it, he’s got great patience. He’s been playing with young guys, they’re learning a lot from him.’’

Hudler had 10 goals, 17 assists and a minus-13 rating in 42 games last season. Hartley sees a much-improved player this year.

“It all has to do with the summer he put in,’’ Hartley said. “Last year there were lots of uncertainties with the work stoppage and then the passing of his dad. There’s many things that went on with Jiri last year off the ice. Those are not excuses, they’re facts of life.

“This year Jiri showed up to camp in great shape. The season started right from Day 1 of camp.’’

Hudler missed only 17 games during his five full seasons in Detroit, from 2006-07 to 2011-12 (he played in Russia in 2009-10).

“I like Huds,’’ Babcock said. “He’s brilliant with the puck, he knows how to play. He was in a good organization for a long time, learned how to play with and without the puck. I think he’s a real good player.’’